KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 25): A witness told the Sessions Court on Friday that she had seen the contents of an email including operational and financial performance reports for the first quarter of 2024 sent by former PETRONAS manager Mohd Khairul Akmal to two senior officials of Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros).

PETRONAS human resources manager Suhaidah Labu, 42, said the confidential information, dated May 10, 2024, was sent by Mohd Khairul to Petros chief executive officer Datuk Janin Girie and chief financial officer Mohd Azha Abdul Jalil.

"The email was brought to my attention by industrial relations officers Jumsuri Basri and Zatil ‘Ismah Azmi on Dec 6, 2024. They contacted me to verify whether Mohd Khairul had resigned, as the email contained the phrase 'I look forward to joining your team'.

"After checking his records in the system, I found no record of resignation; he remained an active PETRONAS employee," she said while reading her witness statement during the trial of Mohd Khairul Akmal, who faces a charge of attempting to disclose official or confidential information regarding a report to Petros in June 2024.

Regarding the laptop belonging to Mohd Khairul, the sixth prosecution witness confirmed that she had taken possession of the device; however, it was not forcibly seized. Instead, Mohd Khairul handed it over voluntarily after the 'notice of suspension' letter was explained to him.

"The laptop was collected as part of standard human resources procedure when an employee is suspended from duty, enabling the relevant authorities to conduct further investigations," she said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Noor Syafina Mohd Redzuan.

Additionally, Suhaidah noted that throughout his tenure, Mohd Khairul demonstrated excellent work performance and was categorised as 'top talent' within the PETRONAS finance fraternity.

"He also possessed deep knowledge and understanding of the factors influencing oil and gas values, as well as the gas value chain."

"The RM15,000 salary received by Mohd Khairul was based on PETRONAS' internal equity principles for the position of manager; however, he had verbally expressed a desire to be transferred to Sarawak as his family resides there," the witness said.

During cross-examination by lawyer Louis Liaw Vern Xien, who represents Mohd Khairul, the witness admitted to being unsure exactly who had written the email and pressed 'send' to transmit the first-quarter 2024 operational and financial performance report to Janin and Mohd Azha.

Mohd Khairul Akmal, 41, is charged with attempting to disclose information regarding the "Q1 2024 Upstream Business Performance Operational & Financial" document to Petros information obtained while performing his duties as a business unit performance manager at PETRONAS — at a condominium on Jalan Pinang here, between 3.19pm and 3.21pm on June 8, 2024.

The charge was brought under Section 203A(1) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 511 of the same Code, which carries a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment, a fine of RM1 million, or both, upon conviction.

The trial before judge Mazuliana Abdul Rashid will resume on Nov 18.

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